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Tastings: November 2017
29 November 2017
86PTS
Torres Altos Ibéricos Rioja 2014
Rioja, SpainDusty cherry, green-leafed raspberry, plum, on this somewhat rustic 'red' tempranillo, one that saw a year in French and American oak, some of that partially new and another year in bottle before release. The wood is felt along its bitter cherry, green peppercorn, short warming finish. There is a softness here but not enough to overcome its resiny, savoury, green notes. It's made for cured Ibérico pork but this bottle will be better with rustic winter stew.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.60 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.99 | 750ml |
| PEI | $19.19 | 750ml |
| NB | $18.29 | 750ml |
| SK | $17.82 | 750ml |
| NS | $19.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Torres Salmos Priorat 2014
Priorato, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainLicorice from the llicorella soils of steep Priorato imbues this deep, rich Salmos, firmly gripped and framed by stones. Fermented in stainless, aged 14 months in French wood. This is not about fruit; sure, there's crushed wild cassis, wilder blackberries, black plum and blueberries that base this cariñena / garnacha / syrah but this wine is much more about decomposed stones, slate and quartzite than black fruits. Balanced, finessed and strikingly ripe before a tightening shrink on the finish, this is best enjoyed now with wild lamb, boar, or truffle risotto.Prices:| ON | $32.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $33.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $33.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $36.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $49.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $42.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Torres Sangre de Toro Garnacha 2015
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis youthful blend is based around carinena and garnacha from Catalunya, fermented in stainless before six months in French and American. A swell of reduction upon opening before black cherry, ground coffee, earth, to a warm, shorter finish. Tannins are gritty and rustic, making this simple mid-week red a good match for meatballs, stews.Prices:| QC | $13.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $12.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $16.50 | 750ml |
| SK | $15.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $16.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Torres Celeste Crianza 2013
Ribera del Duero, Castilla-Leon, SpainThis tempranillo, from high altitude vineyards in Ribera Del Duero, takes its name from the celestial heavens, seemingly within reach from the 895m high vineyard. From this site, far away from lights and habituation, Torres Jr has said “you can almost touch the stars.” The memorable label is a depiction of the constellations seen if you look straight up when you’re standing in said vineyard. This wine benefits from some time in bottle; the potent tempranillo (French and American oak aged, some new) is just now starting to fade a wee bit, revealing espresso-lined black fruit, black cherry jam, and dried dark florals on the bitter edged finish. Tannins feel hard pressed through to the flush of heat on the finish, and would benefit from hearty blood sausage or lamb leg to mitigate.Prices:| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $28.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Torres Mas La Plana 2011
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis iconic Spanish wine has been in the spotlight since 1979 Paris judgement when the 1970 Mas La Plana beat out Bordeaux for the Cab Crown. From deep, limestone-rich soils in Alt Penedès, Catalunya, this spent 18 months in French oak (70 percent new). The wood is firm and gritty around the sides still, housing savoury wild cherry, leather, tobacco, and frisky acidity. The finish is pinched tight, and warm, salted, and ready for wild lamb.Prices:| ON | $47.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $52.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $55.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $62.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $56.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $57.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Torres Floralis Moscato Oro NV
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThis golden elixir has been made by the Torres family since 1946. It is akin to France's Vin du Naturel, in Spain called Vino di Licor. It is made from Muscat de Alejandra grapes that have not been fermented while must from the pressings is fortified with distilled wine to bring the alcohol up to 15%. This heady, orange oil, ginger and honey blossom sip finishes with soft, round, unctuous candied mandarine fruit flecked with clove. Roasted marcona almonds is the match but crème brûlée comes to mind as well. A late night dessert wine to contemplate the state of the world in the wee hours of the morning.Prices:| ON | $16.95 | 500ml |
| BC | $20.00 | 500ml |
| MB | $15.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Torres Grans Muralles 2010
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainIn 2010 Grans Muralles is a mix of garnacha, monastrell, querol, cariñena and garró all grown in the DO Conca de Barberà at 445 to 470 metres above sea level. It was a cool growing season coming in at an annual mean temperature almost one degree below average. This wine takes its name from the walls that protected the monastery at Poblet during the Mercenary Wars. The identity of Grans Muralles is linked to the stony, slate ground of the region, and the grape varieties believed to be extinct, such as Garró an Querol, using modern viticultural techniques. We are attracted to the cooler years because the aromatics are better yet Torres has ripened this red perfectly capturing its rich, floral, black fruit and supporting it with perfect acidity and freshness. It’s all aged in new French oak for 18 months. Long persistent and elegant at 15 per cent alcohol that speaks to its balance. Cellar through 2025 and beyond.Prices:| BC | $120.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Torres Mas La Plana 2012
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainMas La Plana is forty-two years old and counting, and the cabernet sauvignon in a Burgundy bottle is all grown up. First planted in 1966, the idea was revolutionary. A big win in Paris in 1979 with the 1970 Mas La Plana securing its future. In 2012, a very warm growing season has flattened out this cabernet. There is weight and fruit but it's lacking verve and freshness. Jammy blackcurrant dominates and will attract a certain crowd who like their cabernet rich and jammy with spice and power but little finesse. Solid, this will be drinking earlier over the next five to seven years.Prices:| BC | $67.99 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
| NFL | $79.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $65.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $62.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $59.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $60.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Torres Celeste Crianza 2014
Ribera del Duero, Castilla-Leon, SpainA big wow for the 2014 version of Celeste, made with fruit grown at about 950 meters above sea level. It has long reached for the stars but this year it has made the jump above the French and American oak to a much fresher, more electric style. Expect an attractive, smoky, black cherry aroma and a far more sophisticated palate where the tannins are ripe and almost lush. The Torres family say it’s the best yet and we concur. Black fruit, black cherry jam and fragrant dark florals that dovetail into a warm, round finish. Roast lamb and or turkey would be a fine match. Certainly, a more moderate look at Ribero del Duero and tempranillo and it looks good on everyone. You can easily cellar this through 2023.Prices:| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $22.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $23.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $28.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Torres Purgatori 2013
Costers del Segre, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe monks of the Abbey of Montserrat settled the property in 1770 in an area renowned for its harsh climate and tough conditions. It was to be as penance as they started out to provide food for the diocese but the legacy turned out to be a new terroir for grapes. Miguel Torres says Purgatori was to be a second wine to Grans Muralles but given its origins, Costers del Segre, and the addition of syrah to the blend, and assorted native grapes of differing varieties, it may be best it stands on its own because it does. Despite the ancient tales the wine is a modern red with a carignan foundation that is dense and rich. Add new oak and spice and you have a big wine. That said, it is a red tempered by indigenous Catalonia grapes that bring structure and freshness to the blend and keep it lively and capable of ageing another two to five years before it gets to heaven. Look for a rich,dense black cherry colour with savoury, black raspberry, black pepper, poultry spice nose and palate that at this point would be best with roasted meats.Prices:| BC | $59.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $44.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Torres Coronas Crianza 2014
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainThe latest Torres Coronas Tempranillo is refreshingly clean and the winemaking is simple: ageing in American and French oak for 12 months. The attack is round and soft, the red and black fruit richer than you might expect but with a fair bit of acidity to keep it elevated through the finish. A warm, elegant, ready-to-drink, mid-week red. Interestingly, Juan Torres Casals, a second-generation Torres, registered the Coronas name more than 110 years ago name on February 7th, 1907.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
| NFL | $17.80 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.45 | 750ml |
| QC | $13.40 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Torres Gran Coronas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainLike last year there’s a note of meaty/reduction on the nose with licorice, blackcurrant and smoky toasted oak. The attack is fresh with red and black fruits, green olive, resin and licorice notes. Perfect for grilled ribs or hamburgers or even spaghetti and meatballs. Splash decant for best results.Prices:| BC | $20.49 | 750ml |
| NS | $24.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.60 | 750ml |
| SK | $23.00 | 750ml |
| NLL | $23.80 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Torres 5G Five Garnachas Five Generations 2014
Campo de Borja, Aragon, Spain5G is garnacha from the Campo de Borja region. Sixty percent of the blend is aged for six months in new and second fill French oak. Expect a big, earthy red that mixes strawberry and red currants with soft and silky easy-sipping tannins. Fresh, bright, balanced and ready to drink. As for the name, the Torres family has been making wine for 5 generations so as a tribute to the garnacha grape and their family heritage they selected five (5) special parcels from the Campo de Borja region for this cuvee.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.49 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Torres De Casta Rosado 2016
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainMedium pink in colour, this may be the one ‘old-style’ wine still made at Torres from a blend of garnacha and cariñena since the mid-1970s. The attack is fresh, the palate a bit flatter with ripe strawberries and banana fruit aromas and flavours. I would suggest vegetable pakoras and any number of vegetable dishes or a light charcuterie plates. Drink year round.Prices:| BC | $18.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
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28 November 2017
89PTS
Stag's Hollow Grenache 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBC's best grenache, yet again. Ample cinnamon and crimson berries swirl around a juicy strawberry core, soft and round and aided with perfumed plum and cherry, but kept snappy with acidity to a cloud of white pepper to finish. From Penticton and Osoyoos, this whole berry grenache had 40 percent of ripe stems added back in before ferment and 72 hour cold soak. After ferment this was pressed into French puncheons and aged six months post MLF before being racked and blended with 10 percent syrah (??), and then bottled without fining or filtration. This ripe red carries all of grenache's inherent warmth and generosity, yet feels distinctly Okanagan.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pentâge Winery GSM 2013
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Pentâge GSM is a 40/40/20 mix of syrah, grenache and mourvèdre. The wine is aged in a blend of new and neutral French oak for 18 months. It’s an interesting mix of red fruits and strong, savoury meaty undertones. The palate is similar with a very fresh, high acid entry that tends to heighten the spice, red cherry fruit, licorice, olive fresh pepper palate. Angular and youthful at this point, so best consumed with rich, slow roasted meats like lamb osso buco.Prices:| BC | $29.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chateau de Nages ButiNages Rouge 2015
Rhone Valley, FranceMichel Gassier and family are behind Château de Nages and have been for generations. This charming red blend mixes 25/55/20 grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, all grown on poor soils (a built in restraining order). The attack is fresh with black fruit, wet stone and a fair bit of minerality. The palate is similar with more blackberries and licorice that preview a dry, stony finish. Very food-friendly with grilled pork, lamb, beef or chicken. Solid.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $19.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Domaine de L’Arjolle Arlequin 2012
Vins de Pays des Côtes de Thongue, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThe Arlequin is 40/30/10/10 cabernet franc, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and grenache with a fragrant, fresh demeanour. Rich, dense black fruits pull you into a dense palate of smooth, silky tannins and fragrant, peppery, minty, garrigue scents that persist throughout the fresh, cool finish. A style that works with most grilled chicken dishes.Prices:| BC | $65.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Domaine de L’Arjolle Paradoxe 2014
Vins de Pays des Côtes de Thongue, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceParadoxe Red is a syrah dominated blend that mixes 40/25/25/10 syrah, merlot, cabernet franc and grenache perhaps the perfect mix for this property if somewhat unconventional for the south of France. The attack is reminiscent of Châteauneuf du Pape with initial ripe black fruits followed by a fresher mid-section that ends in a floral, violet, peppery, finish. This will need some time in bottle to reach its peak but could be served now with roast lamb or something like steak Florentine.Prices:| BC | $48.00 | 750ml |
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27 November 2017
88PTS
Pazo das Bruxas Albarino 2016
Rueda, Castilla-Leon, SpainPazo das Bruxas takes its name from Galician folklore. It is said that in the vast forests of Galicia witches lived in old country houses (pazos) where they would connect with nature to obtain the best fruits from it. The Rías Baixas is divided into five sub-areas: O Rosal, Condado de Tea, Soutomaior, Val do Salnes and Ribeira do Ulloa, but Pazo das Bruxas is mostly produced with grapes from the O’Rosal area, with some grapes from Salnés. Both are renowned for their cool Atlantic Ocean influence and their ability to retain acidity. Look for a fresh, almost skinny white, with an aromatic (think sauvignon) bent. Bitter melon, green and yellow apples and Asian pears mark the palate along with crunchy acidity, lees and grass. The finish is fresh and clean with almonds and mineral notes. Best with shellfish, especially west coast oysters.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Torres Milmanda Chardonnay 2014
Conca de Barbera, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainMilmanda is transitioning to a cooler, fresher style that is more food-friendly and modern, but it is a slow process. This 2014 seems from another age with its rich, spicy, honeyed nose and light vanilla tones. The malolactic affects 45 percent of the wine, but the new oak still sits on the fruit giving the fresh, apple notes a resiny undercurrent. This wine seems trapped between the new and old style of chardonnay and a so-so vintage hasn't helped either style. The Milmanda estate is in the Conca de Barbera region of Catalonia. The 2014 Milmanda was picked on the 4th of September and 100 percent barrel fermented for 14-21 days in 300 litre barrels (60 percent new) and then spends 12 months lees aging. The 15-hectare vineyard was planted in 1980 at 500 meters above sea level on deep, silt-rich, calcareous clay soils.Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Vardon Kennett Cuvee Esplendor Metode Tradicional 2013
SpainEsplendor by Vardon Kennett, the Torres family's first Catalan sparkling wine, is the best new sparkling wine I have tasted this year. With climate change a major issue for Miguel Torres, the family has launched Vardon Kennett, grown at 500 meters in the Alto Penedès, in search of preserving freshness and vitality. It’s made using the traditional method, blending pinot noir and chardonnay with a small percentage of Xarel·lo before spending 30 months in bottle. Mireia Torres Maczassek, fifth-generation winemaker, is the force behind Vardon Kennett and she has done a remarkable job of crafting an elegant, complex sparkling wine with ageing potential. The first vintage, 2013, was a cool year allowing the VK to undergo a complete malolactic fermentation. The primary ferment was done partially in barrels using indigenous yeasts. I love the mealy, leesy nose and creamy citrus flavours that run through the entire wine. A first-class sparkler that will avoid the Cava tag to make a quality statement. Fine Value. The winery is located at the Santa Margarida d'Agulladolç estate in the Alt Penedès. The story of Vardon Kennett as supplied by the Torres family follows: The son of a legendary family of maritime traders, Daniel Vardon Kennett was born on the island of Guernsey (English Channel) in 1781. One of his voyages brought him to Barcelona, where he was captivated by its wines and culture. So, he decided to embark on a new venture: selling and exporting local wines to England and St Peter Port (Guernsey). Years later, Vardon Kennett married the Barcelona-born María Francisca de Ferrer and began a new life amid the vineyards. He died at the age of 54 without leaving any heirs. He was laid to rest in the Romanesque chapel at Santa Margarida d'Agulladolç where his wife's last words to him are inscribed on a tombstone. The bottle design recalls Vardon Kennett's maritime background. The bottle has been exclusively cast to reveal curved lines and a surface texture reminiscent of waves. The label, with gold-edged black lettering, echoes the undulating shape of a shell, depicting the estate's original emblem, which is still visible on the main façade of the building. The winery where Esplendor is made respects the architectural integrity of the old buildings and their harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Torres Vina Esmeralda 2016
Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainNo big changes in this classic, cool, Upper Penedès blend built on aromatic, spicy, floral Mediterranean moscatel and gewürztraminer (85/15 blend). Fermented in stainless steel at 16C for two weeks, look for a fragrant, floral exotic fruit nose with a honeyed lush palate of spicy/limey litchi fruit. This works well with turkey or a favourite curry dish or alongside seafood appetizers. Solid.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $11.60 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $17.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Torres Verdeo Verdejo Rueda Blanco 2015
Rueda, Castilla-Leon, SpainVerdejo in a hot 2015 was picked early in the first week of September. There’s no skin contact here (yay) and the 15-day ferment is all stainless steel. Typically fragrant and dry, a la sauvignon blanc, it remains lively and fresh on the palate with grassy, passionfruit flavours flecked with dried fennel notes. Pair with a variety of west coast shellfish or grilled squid.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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24 November 2017
89PTS
K de L’Arjolle Carmenere 2015
FranceOne hundred percent carmenère with impressive top-flight Chilean character. The nose is a leafy peppery mix of blackcurrant and blackberries with a vibrant herbaceous, grilled pepper undercurrent. The finish is rich, smoky and long. Impressive for the variety; a super blind wine for the WSET crowd. Beef tartare or grilled lamb chops all work here.Prices:| BC | $34.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine de L’Arjolle Etonnants Zinfandel 2015
FranceThe Teisserenc family are fans of zinfandel and this wine is said to be the only one of its kind in France. It gets a cold maceration to extract some colour without alcohol, followed by a standard fermentation before ageing in French and American oak. Look for some familiar plummy, smoky, liquorice, cassis notes with a touch of peppery garrigue and some acidity poking through the back end. A different look from the south of France but worth checking out. The match is an all-southern France tajine.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
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23 November 2017
92PTS
Synchromesh Wines Bob Hancock Riesling 2016
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis 2017 harvest marked third generation Naramata born and raised farmer Bob Hancock's final vintage. Bob had seven decades' familiarity with the site, tucked up the north end of Naramta Bench and adjacent to his family's homestead. The 3.5 acre south-facing site is sloping gravelly clay and calcium carbonate, planted to self-rooted 21B Riesling vines. This is of a series of striking single-vineyard rieslings that winemaker Alan Dickinson produces each year. This Bob Hancock was sustainably farmed and cropped low, harvested in two picks and with six different ferments, with only a small part of sulphur added. The wine spent up to five months in stainless tank for clarity and freshness prior to bottling. Off-dry and confidently so, with a swell of juicy, quenching acidity to counter the 38 g/l RS. Ripe pear, white peach, honeysuckle, honeycomb, vibrant lime pulp lifts a bed of lees. There's an alluring savoury brown butter in the base right up to a spicy gingerale on the finish. Lush in the mouth, but slight in alcohol with all this intensity impressively packed into a 10 percent frame. This is drinking beautifully now, but will continue to age effortlessly. pH 2.79, TA 9.975. 442 cases.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Ex Nihilo Riesling 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPunchy and assertive, this riesling falls in line with most of their big, bigger, biggest portfolio. Marmalade, pear butter, ripe peach and a fuzzy, spicy ginger season the snappy, hot finish. Pour this with orange or plum shellacked Chinese dishes.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Dr. Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Riesling Trocken 2014
Pfalz, GermanyBurklin Wolf has over 400 years of history and owns 83 hectares of vineyards across many of the finest Pfalz terroirs. In 2005 the entire estate converted to biodynamics and is certified by Biodyvin—the first property outside France to be so designated. The fruit is all hand harvested from de-classified 1er Cru vineyards. It’s whole bunch pressed, fermented in stainless steel vats using indigenous yeasts before 85 percent is aged in tank and the remaining 15 percent goes into old 2500 litre oak casks for 8 months. The nose and palate are piercingly fresh. White fruits, peach blossoms and preserved lemon dominate its dry, piquant but relatively full-bodied palate. The mouth-watering acidity and pure, clean, dry finish calls for food. It’s not for everyone but certainly this is modern trocken riesling at its freshest. Sushi is a great match, as is charcuterie. It will live forever.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
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22 November 2017
89PTS
Rodney Strong Chardonnay Chalk Hill 2014
Sonoma County, California, United StatesBoth Treve and I tasted this wine earlier this year but this is a revisit for me eight months down the road. Rodney Strong was the first to plant chardonnay in Sonoma's Chalk Hills in 1965, an area that became its own AVA in 1983. The volcanic, chalky, white ash soils, unique to the area, can be seen in the stream of fine minerality throughout this fuller white. Upfront the barrel ferment, with partial new oak, lays down a honeyed, yellow apple, palate with nectarine, lemon curd and a spicy mineral aftertaste. This wine is in transition from fat to fresh but we think it could all happen quicker. Crab or lobster is the match.Prices:| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $26.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $29.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Perseus Select Lots Chardonnay 2016
Penticton Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine continues to evolve but in a welcomed, toned-down style. This year the fruit selection is form the north Okanagan adding a brighter, fresher tone to the nose and palate. It was fermented in American oak barrels and aged on its lees for ten months. The palate opens with citrus, vanilla and lemony, toasted hazelnuts and finishes with some creamy, buttery notes. Best with white fish in a butter sauce or creamy pasta dishes. Ready-to-drink. Next up, all French oak please.Prices:| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Upper Bench Chardonnay 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe UB chardonnay is a 50/50 mix of French oak barrels for 3 months; the other half is in stainless steel tanks. The nose is very attractive with fresh leesy, saline, brioche, and a freshness that carries on to the palate, where the attack is full on with guava, Asian pear, florals, more nutty lees and citrus. I would argue the oak is bit more pointy this year but it works. A good example of why Naramata may be the Okanagan chardonnay sweet zone. Best with creamy cheeses, creamy pasta dishes but would be fine with turkey too.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
TNT Chardonnay 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the cellar. Honeycomb and light beeswax bed this chardonnay, one lifted with a groundswell of acidity and left afloat with a shimmery vibrance. This was the third of Okanagan Crush Pad's Wine Campus Program wines, made in conjunction with Vancouver's Sommelier of the Year; in 2012 the recipient was Terry Nicholas Threlfall. Terry selected limestone studded Cerqueira Vineyard for his Chardonnay, and opted for concrete egg for aging. The proceeds from the sale of the Wine Campus wines goes to the BC Hospitality Foundation wine scholarship fund, supporting students pursuing wine education. The concrete complements the textural minerality inherent in this higher elevation, north Oliver vineyard. Earthy lees flirts with licks of flint and is overridden by wild herbs and giant flake salts on a creamy, lemon base. There's a ripeness to this wine that tips to new world climates, but a framework and elegance that harkens the old world. This is a powerful, savoury white wearing its age very well, and is ready for drinking now. Dynamite.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Pentâge Winery Chardonnay 2013
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a rich and full chardonnay, redolent with baked pear, white peach and honeysuckle, brightened with crisp green apple, and amply spiced with well integrated wood. The palate is clad with downy, nutty lees to a lengthy, hazelnut finish. Now with some age on it, this current release chardonnay is primed for drinking now if you're looking for a well-handled, generous style.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Culmina Family Estate Dilemma 2015
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPouring a rich golden yellow, this chardonnay is reflective of the warm 2015 vintage, even way up high on Margaret's Bench vineyard in Oliver. Ripe peach, applesauce, white flowers, and snappy candied banana notes fill the generous palate, one merged together with equal parts buttery hazelnut and lemon paste. One third of this wine saw stainless, with the remainder in French oak (half of which is new) for nine months. Gingersnap lingers on the finish. Acidity is bright throughout. An excellent choice for buttered crab or lobster dishes.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
HMC McWatters Collection Chardonnay 2016
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA welcome change in style from the usual butterscotch, baked apple, honey nose to something fresher and brighter with more green apple and citrus. The attack is similar with a nutty, spicy, creamy lees character over just a hint of butter with more red apple and peach undertones. Clean, lively, and fresh and ready to drink. Good value here. Halibut anyone?Prices:| BC | $21.79 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Domaine de L’Arjolle Èquilibre Chardonnay 2016
Vins de Pays des Côtes de Thongue, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThere is a gold edge to the colour here that previews a fruity, ripe chardonnay nose with that typical, fresh, L’Arjolle acidity, taking it gently toward the Chablis style. The palate is a citrus, apple pear affair with a touch of lees. Medium length white that would work with simply prepared seafood, goat cheese salads or vegetarian sushi rolls.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Coolshanagh Chardonnay 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis was harvested in September 2015, a warm year across the Okanagan. Some 38 percent was fermented in two lightly-toasted French oak puncheons to preserve the fruit; the balance goes into an egg-shaped concrete tank for texture. It was all aged on its lees for eleven months and bottled some eleven months after harvest. At this point the lees predominates on the nose while the wine shows less acidity and an increased creamy texture that leaves it less electric and more fat in the mouth. The obvious heat of 2015 has left a mix of citrus, caramel, white peach and vanilla pudding—almost Napa style that should appeal to a slightly different crowd than the earlier vintages which were decidedly more Burgundian.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Coolshanagh Chardonnay 2014
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWow, loving the 2014 Coolshanagh (meaning a meeting place of friends). This delicious New World chardonnay is grown on a spectacular vineyard site that sits on a steep slope, some 7 kilometers north of Naramata on the road to Chute Lake. Owners Skip and Judy Stothert work with Okanagan Crush Pad winemaker Matt Dumayne and this vintage is another step up from the previous. In ’14 some one third was fermented in lightly toasted French puncheons; the balance in concrete eggs before it all gets eleven months on the lees. As Treve so aptly describes it has an ‘alluring reduction” that sets up a richer, fuller-bodied chardonnay than 2013, yet stuffed with refreshing crisp pear, green apple, stony, mineral lees with a rinse of dried sagebrush framed by perfect acidity. A minor quibble is the ripeness or sweetness of the fruit but you can serve it with lobster to great fanfare. We already know these wins age well so give in another two to four years in the cellar. Delicious; look for this in restaurants.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Coolshanagh Chardonnay 2013
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRevisited and it’s in a very good pace since I last tasted it in September 2015. Coolshanagh is a meeting place of friends and a spectacular, small vineyard that sits some 7 kilometers north of Naramata on the path to Chute Lake. Owners Skip and Judy Stothert work with Okanagan Crush Pad winemaker Matt Dumayne to make this stony, mineral chardonnay that is fattening up with age but still centered on its dusty, chalky, green apple fruit that seems to be expanding in volume and flavours – music to the ears of folks with a wine cellar. Winemaker Dumayne uses a variety of vessels to age the wine including large neutral oak barriques and egg-shaped concrete vats. All of it gets carefully considered lees aging. A halibut natural, it can work with oysters and seafood pasta dishes. Delicious right now. Sold out ages ago.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Fort Berens White Gold 2015
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaFrom their estate vineyard in Lillooet, this is a full, heady chardonnay, toasty spiced with wood and bedded with lees. It's hard to see the fruit here under all the winemaking. Rather than chipper and fresh fruit, I taste the six months in new French oak and twice-monthly battonage, resulting in pineapple, caramel, sinfully rich lemon curd and hazelnut up to a toasty finish. There are glimpses of fresh acidity, seen in the welcome 12.5 percent alcohol and expected from the area, but otherwise, this is weighted down by too heavy a hand. A shame.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Privata Chardonnay by Ex Nihilo Vineyards 2016
Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPrivata is a reserve tier of Ex Nihilo's, and in the case of this chardonnay, they've pulled out all the stops. Rich butterscotch, orange caramel and giant wood spices this full, rich and warming chardonnay, one barely kept afloat with a wee bubbling stream of acidity. This young wine feels every moment of its nine months in wood: 80 percent French and the remainder American. A salty reduction note lingers on the warm, bruléed finish, sending a call for pairing with crisp, roasted poultry.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
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21 November 2017
88PTS
Quails' Gate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDusty, sticky tannins frame this cabernet sauvignon sourced from the slopes of their estate Mount Boucherie vineyards. After a month-long native ferment, this spent 18 months in French oak. The warmth of the 2015 vintage is apparent, though the firm wood still overrides the density of the fruit at this youthful age. Tobacco, dusty cherry, potent cassis and a wave of earthy resin fills the full body, up to a lingering bitter anise finish. At this young stage, this is best served up with roast beef.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Escorihuela 1884 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Mendoza, ArgentinaArgentine cabernet sauvignon ripens most years, giving the wine a base of bright blueberry/cassis fruit with soft round tannins. 1884 spends some eight months in 100 percent French oak adding a bity of toast and spice while softening the edges of what is a savoury red made for grilled meats. If you are a cabernet sauvignon fan you must like the value here. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Upper Bench Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown 2014
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine continues to impress considering Naramata must be the northern limit for cabernet sauvignon in all but the hottest Okanagan years. The 2014 vintage was a good one and the fruit, while fully ripe, has a wonderful red fruit character and plenty of acidity which impresses. Bright and aromatic, the wood is in better form this year and the tannins are more finessed leaving the rich, red, savoury fruit and spice to entice. You could drink this now or wait three to five years for a fully mature model. Well done.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
North Coast Region, California, United StatesAs you might expect, this Cali cab is ripe and rich and full bodied, though here there is some interest ingrained via the blend being flushed out with 10 percent petite sirah, 6 percent malbec and 3 percent merlot. A full oak treatment (French and American oak for 15 months) has given the rich black fruit the heavy cloak of vanilla, black forest cherry, mocha and peppercorn spicing right up through the heated finish. There is a powdery cocoa texture to the tannins, that would be best mitigated with ribs. Lacks finesse, but certainly carries impact.Prices:| BC | $24.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Moon Curser Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGetting phenolic ripeness in your cabernet sauvignon at 49 degrees north is always a challenge. The vintage was warm, but you need more than heat; you need time to hang and ripen. The wine is bright and fresh on entry with peppery, red fruit, black olives with big, dry, grippy tannins and additional tart notes in the back end. This needs a rustic stew to smooth out the edges.Prices:| BC | $37.30 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileThis wine has improved over the years and having Colchagua-based fruit is key. The vineyards are currently in transition to organic and will be first certified in 2017. The colour is inky dark, the fruit a mix of leafy cassis and blackcurrant with a fresh demeanour. It gets eight months of ageing in French and American oak. Expect a youthful, rustic, upfront cabernet package that is best with grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $15.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Napa Valley, California, United StatesCaymus Special Selection is always a selection of the best barrels, and as they say, the style is pushing the limits of richness and concentration. The nose is typically fragrant and inviting, offering up chocolate, coffee, blackberry jam aromas that spill on to the palate with pipe tobacco and brown spices infiltrating the finish. Supple, long and suave with plenty of vanilla. The SS is a bit more linear and slightly tighter than the regular Cabernet Sauvignon, and showing more finesse. Iconic and hedonistic Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. Just under 26,000 cases produced.Prices:| BC | $199.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $135.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $149.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $140.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $138.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Napa Valley, California, United StatesAnother big, ripe blackberry jam, vanilla, chocolate nose with bits of cassis and orange peel. The attack is similar with sweet, jammy, black fruit and milk chocolate flavours with a swirl of coffee, licorice and dried herbs. If you like the soft, round hedonistic style with a sweet finish, this is for you. The grapes are picked across eight of the 16 Napa appellations. Best with big, rich, spicy entrées.Prices:| BC | $99.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $120.29 | 750ml |
| AB | $99.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $104.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $99.75 | 750ml |
| NS | $100.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $99.99 | 750ml |
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20 November 2017
86PTS
Sperling Market Red 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaEasy and soft on the palate with berry fruits, stewed and fresh, but with a cut of bitter smoked tobacco and finely gritty tannins. This blend of pinot noir and marechal foch is sun-tanned soft and ripely sweet, with candied cherry and raspberry. Dried marjoram and some thistle rosemary on the finish. The acidity is tight and lively. This is a simple, well made, easy red.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Stoneboat Pinot House Gravelbar Duet 2015
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe former Stone’d Red, now Gravelbar Duet, is mix of pinotage and pinot noir, blending the dark fruit of the pinotage with the softer silky pinot noir. The result is a juicy soft, simple, rustic red with milk chocolate and spicy black fruit flavours that are ready-to-drink.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Stoneboat Pinot House Rock Opera Reserve 2014
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA more intense version of the regular pinotage, with the same smoky scorched earth scents. The attack is a mix of sweet plums and chocolate with some smoky meaty notes. Ready to drink and perhaps best with spicy barbecued meats. I prefer the regular, less-is-more version.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Stoneboat Pinot House Rock Opera 2014
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaExpect a deep colour with wild, smoked earth and dark fruit aromas and flavours. The attack is plums and chocolate with smoky, earthy wild fruit aromas and plummy, spicy vanilla undertones. The pinotage undergoes a five-day cold soak before select yeasts set off a quick, warm fermentation. The fruit is pressed directly to barrel and spends 14 months in oak. A round, soft, funky oaky red suited to pulled pork dishes and even dark chocolate flavours.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Stag's Hollow Tempranillo Joven 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Joven refers to young wines that get very little, if any, wood aging, and in most cases are expected to be drunk young. It’s pretty much what you get here: a young, juicy fresh red wine with little pretension featuring underripe raspberries and pomegranate that draw saliva with every sip. The tempranillo is grown in Naramata at Ramuda Vineyard on a silty clay site, and at Stag’s Hollow Vineyard over gravels and coarse glacial till. Try it with some grilled chicken.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Stag's Hollow Tempranillo 2014
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAn improvement over our last encounter with 2011. It’s juicier this time around with smoky, sweaty, cherry, earthy, pomegranate notes, if a bit warm. A year of bottle age has helped this red soothe its tannins and gather itself. The ferments were punched down by hand and after 13 days of skin contact, was pressed into French and American oak barrels and aged 20 months on its fine lees before a final racking and the addition of nine percent malbec. It’s bottled unfined and unfiltered. The tempranillo is grown in Naramata at Ramuda Vineyard on a silty clay site, and at Stag’s Hollow Vineyard over gravels and coarse glacial till. The malbec comes off the sandy loam terroir of Plut Vineyard in Osoyoos.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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19 November 2017
89PTS
Mission Hill Terroir Collection No. 23 Crosswinds Syrah 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTasted another year along its journey this "Terroir Collection" syrah is sourced from two vineyards, one on Oliver's Black Sage Bench (69 percent) and one in Osoyoos (31 percent). Thirteen months in French oak (37 percent new) still dominates this big red, especially in the finish where it’s drying out the fruit. As before, the form and tannins are surprisingly cabernet-like, with dusty cassis, wild plum, thorns, worked leather and savoury tobacco. Tannins are dusty and lined with a medicinal, savoury, resinous tar, making more sense when you imagine the semi-desert climate conditions. Drink now, with grilled lamb, or wait another three years.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Quails' Gate Syrah The Boswell 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of Quails' Gate's prestigious Anniversary Series in honour of the family's pioneering Okanagan ancestors, the 2015 edition of The Boswell Syrah amounted to 24 barrels total. This Westbank estate grown syrah spent 18 months in French oak, required to support the ripe intensity of the fruit. Dense black cherry is perfumed with herbs, violets, wild anise, thorns, fried sage and alluring lavender potpourri to a medicinal cassis and very bitter black coffee finish. Tannins are bracketed with grippy, persistently fine wood spicing, afforded from the barrel. This is very much in youth, and will benefit from time in a decanter and pairing with Salt Spring lamb now.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Moon Curser Syrah 2015
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe syrah comes off Moon Curser vineyards on the Osoyoos East Bench and in 2015 it was grown on a single site: Bartsch Vineyard. The silica and granite soiled sites face south and west, collecting plenty of warmth from the day sun. The fruit, picked by hand on October 6, came in at 24.8 Brix, and October 9 at 27 Brix. It’s a mix of barrel and tank fermentations all matured in 225L barriques that are mostly Hungarian oak. The ’15 syrah is amped up with super ripe fruit. The blueberry notes of last year are mixed with pruney, raisin, vanilla black fruit flavours and dry peppery notes in the finish. It’s warm (alcoholic) but not really out of whack. I suggest keeping it three to five years in bottle, or serving it now with venison or wild birds.Prices:| BC | $23.39 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Moon Curser Syrah 2014
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThree years on this red is beginning to peak in the glass. The fruit is soft and juicy with attractive blueberry notes, a sure sign of quality fruit. It's bright with enough acidity to keep it fresh and linear before it explodes on the palate spilling floral, pepper/chocolate/liquorice black fruit that fade into a savoury finish. Ready and fun to drink now. Should be perfect for lamb chops or hamburgers.Prices:| BC | $23.39 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Pentâge Winery Syrah 2013
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSkaha-based Pentâge Winery has done the aging for us, holding this structural, brooding, peppery 2013 syrah back until now when it is a welcome current release. Meaty and savoury, with cracked peppercorn, charcuterie, wild cassis, lifted blueberry, a hint of scrub, all riding a swell of acidity (at the limit) right through the lingering finish. Tannins are age-appropriately worn, straddling the youthful wood-grip stage. Yet another individual reason why syrah is a star of BC.Prices:| BC | $25.90 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Evolve Shiraz 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe folks at Evolve are as charming as their wine. In the case of the ‘16 Shiraz (note it doesn’t say syrah), the style is decidedly Australian in that soft, spicy way. Look for light peppery black fruit with mostly slippery tannins, a touch of toasted oak and plenty of soft, savoury, spicy, sweet fruit and chocolate in the finish. Ready to drink with no fuss or muss, just twist the top off and pour. Best with grilled baby back ribs.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Domaine de L’Arjolle Syrah Èquilibre 2016
Vins de Pays des Côtes de Thongue, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceClassically dark purple but the with red fruit scents of currants and blueberries and fresh cracked pepper. The attack is more boisterous blackberries, pepper and savoury notes with a juicy, silky soft palate that lets the wine slide down effortlessly. There are lots of similarities between this wine and what we are doing in the south Okanagan but I must say the textures here are more pleasing and better suited to the price. The tannins are almost gone despite the obvious youth of the wine. The winery employs homemade compost and grass cover adapted to each plot to develop biological life and regulate water needs. The wine is aged in concrete vats. Food pairings are numerous including poultry, lamb, cheeses and charcuterie. The wine is 100 percent syrah grown on sandy/loamy soils in 20-year-old vineyards. Impressive value.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Black Hills Syrah 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPerfumed violets float atop a base of bacon fat, blueberries, lavender and cured meats in this full-bodied southern Okanagan syrah. Ample black peppercorns crackle throughout, as does a beam of freshness before ample spicy grainy wood kicks in. This is intense, concentrated and warm but with a spirited lift that works hard to counter the density. Best with a peppercorn steak and a splash decant now, or cellar for two to three years.Prices:| BC | $39.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Narrative Syrah by Okanagan Crush Pad 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTar, desert scrub and medicinal resin lines this organically grown Southern Okanagan syrah, fermented and aged in concrete. It’s slightly reductive on the nose, but swirling your glass is helpful if you don’t do a splash decant. Wild thorns, dusky plum, green raspberry, stems, and cracked black pepper raft along the steady, juicy flow, banked with grippy, fine tannins characteristic of concrete. There's an tarry, pitchy bitterness on the finish of this youthful, medium-bodied wine which we find slightly distracting without food. It's ready, and meant, for drinking now. Best with grilled lamb or beef.Prices:| BC | $29.90 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Creekside UnBroken Press Reserve Syrah 2012
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaHefty in bottle, form and palate, this is a full bodied, dense and powerful syrah from St. David's Bench. Four percent viognier lends a whisper of softness to this firm blend, still fist-clenched even five years along. There's an iron ring around the edges, housing severe black fruit, pitch, charcoal and thorns, with furry tannins and a slight fade to the peppercorn finish. Nine barrels were made, one new Hungarian wood and eight older French. Drink now, after a decant, and with roast beef and jus.Prices:| ON | $43.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Laughing Stock Vineyards Amphora Syrah +26/09 2016
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis Small Cap release of Amphora is a big departure from the first three years of the project, when their two 500L terracotta clay amphorae contained white grapes to make an orange wine (viognier, roussanne). This year syrah (all Perfect Hedge Vineyard on East Bench, Osoyoos) received the natural treatment, wild fermented and left untouched, on the skins, for eight months. Textured violets, ripe plum, cassis, hints of medicinal black cherry, dusky thorns, with moderately grippy tannins lining the edges and an evident stony, concrete texture throughout. The alcohol, at 14.9 percent, is warm and little bit sweet on the finish, and is the only blip on this otherwise gentle wine. Best when decanted or opened in advance (give it a day) and allowed space. The Amphora effect here has opened up the wine, but taken away some of the power, density and weight we loved in the 2015 barrel aged syrah.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Clos du Soleil Grower's Series Syrah Middle Bench Vineyard 2015
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis single vineyard syrah is from Keremeos' Middle Bench Vineyard, and reflects all that is dusty, stony inviting Similkameen. Sultry and slowly drawn with dusky blackberry, thorns, perfumed raspberry, violets and perfectly grippy tannins for its age through a lengthy, peppery, stylish finish. Destemmed grapes were fermented in open top fermenters for a month, punched down daily, before sixteen months in French oak of which only 12 percent was thankfully new. Production is barely 200 cases, just eight barrels in 2015, but these are special bottles. In youth, yet rich in elegance and rustically lensed. This is a must buy for the cellar and make a date for 2025.Prices:| BC | $32.90 | 750ml |
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17 November 2017
88PTS
Argento Classic Malbec 2016
Mendoza, ArgentinaCool weather in 2016 has taught everyone a valuable lesson in Argentina: don’t be afraid of freshness. This wine was picked early to avoid the rain and given a longer maceration, and the result is a big win. Purity of fruit reigns along with savoury, juicy, red fruit and a touch of tobacco. Fragrant, tasty, affordable, solid new-style malbec almost all made in concrete. Fine with chicken or pasta with a meat sauce, and of course perfect with empanadas. The fruit is all Mendoza from Rivadavia, Junín, Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, Tunuyán and Tupungato.Prices:| BC | $17.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $14.50 | 750ml |
| YK | $16.35 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $13.49 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Red Schooner Voyage 4 Red Wine of the World 2015
United StatesIf you enjoy the rich, ripe style of Caymus wines you will like this rich, ripe, fat interpretation of Argentine malbec. The grapes are grown in Mendoza and shipped chilled to Napa Valley before being made using the same blueprint as Caymus Cabernet. In essence, this is a super rich, warm and spicy pinot noir-structured cabernet made with malbec. Plenty of oak and vanilla with even more cassis and chocolate should have wide appeal to a certain sector of the market that likes their red wines in that big, soft, sweet pillowy style. Best with grilled meats, and in this case, with a chimichurri sauce to take in the ripe fruit.Prices:| BC | $64.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $69.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $69.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $69.99 | 750ml |
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15 November 2017
88PTS
Quails' Gate Cailleteau Gamay Nouveaux 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe second release of the Quails' Gate gamay nouveau, or Cailleteau (pronounced kye-toe) after the French word for a baby quail, is as good as first and maybe, even better. There was never anything wrong with the concept of Beaujolais Nouveau - a chance to celebrate the vintage and the harvest by bottling wine made in one month from picking. The mistake was trying to make a local tradition a worldwide event. The juicy, delicious gamay made in the simplest of ways was never up to the challenge of travelling around the world in anything less than the Concorde. Its soft, peppery, fruity, branchy nuances and easy-sipping, slippery juicy nature demands it be consumed quickly and locally. At Quails’ Gate, the fruit was harvested on September 28, and as she did last year, winemaker Nikki Callaway has nailed the ‘Nouveau’ style. Whole clusters in a carbon dioxide rich environment has yielded a dark purple, youthful red with inviting flecks of primary, cherry/kirsch fruit with savoury, dried herbs, pepper and cinnamon. Nothing but fun. It’s winery only sales so find a friend in Kelowna to grab you a few bottles or join the Cellar Door Club and buy it at $17.99. Best with charcuterie, pâté or soft cheese throughout the holidays.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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14 November 2017
89PTS
Chateau des Tours Vieilles Vignes Brouilly 2015
Brouilly, Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceJuicy, quenching red currant, wild raspberry and dried strawberry bristles with acidity and potent finely textured minerality in this old vine Brouilly, with vine age averaging 60 years. Tannins are taut and grippy/gritty through to the lingering cherry and dried floral finish. The frame is narrow, but intense, stuffing all of the hot 2015's 14.5 percent alcohol into a sleek frame. This is from mid slope, broken granite and skinny sandy soils, farmed sustainably and partially fermented in old oak for up to ten months. #GoGamayGo.Prices:| QC | $25.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Haywire Gamay Noir 2016
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the 15-hectare Secrest Mountain Vineyard, just north of Oliver, this is a higher elevation (487 metres) finely spiced and friendly gamay grown on the south-west Secrest Vineyard. The site is now in its second year of transition towards organic certification. Look for fresh herbal raspberry notes with dried thyme and sarsaparilla on the softer, juicy, red-fruited and gently tannic palate. A friendly, approachable gamay. Perfect for pork or autumn mushroom dishes. #GoGamayGo.Prices:| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
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13 November 2017
90PTS
Moon Curser Dead of the Night 2015
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDead of the Night is a 50/50 mix of syrah/tannat grown on the Osoyoos east bench area that is the unofficial flagship red of the winery. As big as syrah and tannat can be this wine remains fresh and relatively bright on the nose offering fragrant notes of dark plums and ripe blackberries. The palate is much improved showing more finesse and refined dense tannins permeated by a strong black cherry flavour. Much more elegance than we are used to here and it is welcomed in what can be a brawny red. Impressive to say the least.Prices:| BC | $37.30 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Moon Curser Dead of the Night 2014
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIf you like the ‘12 you going to like the 2014. Dead of the Night is a 50/50 mix of syrah/tannat grown on the Osoyoos East bench area that is the unofficial flagship red of the winery. The nose is rich and brooding with floral, black fruits drenched in earthy meaty, savoury notes and some substantial tannins. This is going to take an extra two years in bottle to settle in. If you must open it now it requires a substantial piece of roasted meat or venison to take on its tannins and the rich flavours.Prices:| BC | $37.30 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Penfolds Max's Shiraz Cabernet 2015
South Australia, AustraliaMax Schubert created the Penfold’s icon red Grange, hence the Max reference in what is a new tier of Penfolds wines. The style is modern and has Peter Gago’s fingerprints on it showing only medium acidity and with bright, fresh, ripe, smoky fruit flecked with toasted oak. Not particularly complex but it is easy-drinking with soft tannins and a touch of warmth in the back end.Prices:| US | $25.00 | 750ml |
| Australia | $35.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Beringer Paso Robles The Waymaker Red 2014
Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThe Waymaker is a ripe, spicy hedonistic blend with big blue and red fruit aromatics. The style is soft and juicy, and the fruit on the overripe with a plenty of spice, dark chocolate and a hint of residual sugar in line with its Paso Robles fruit makeup. The wine is aged in oak barrels for 16 months before bottling. Simple, ready to drink red.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $30.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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10 November 2017
87PTS
Argento Classic Pinot Grigio 2016
Mendoza, ArgentinaA cool year has produced one of the freshest gris yet from this talented producer. It’s a mix of Mendoza and San Juan fruit that is clean and fresh with a bright, citrus streak and a minerality that won’t quit. Quite remarkable styling for the price. The wine sits in stainless steel tanks on its lees that are stirred intermittently to keep it all fresh and help with texture. Real wine and super value.Prices:| AB | $11.50 | 750ml |
| BC | $17.49 | 750ml |
| NF | $14.57 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.99 | 750ml |
| NL | $14.57 | 750ml |
| PEI | $12.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $17.95 | 1500ml |
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90PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Gris 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA blend of two French clones and thirty-year-old vines, this was native fermented and whole cluster pressed 60/40 into stainless / wood, where it aged for eight months (the wood portion aged sur lie). Big, polished and spiced, with creamy orange blossom, fleshy pear and a firm bracing frame. This is a big, though finessed, wine, still very much in youth, and will settle and own its shape with another year in bottle. One of BC's benchmark gris, yet again. Outstanding value.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $24.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Haywire Pinot Gris 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLike so many successful Haywire wines, this is drawn from the cooler, higher altitude, limestone-studded Secrest Mountain Vineyard, just north of Oliver. Winemaker Matt Dumayne gets pinot gris; it's always near the pinnacle of their vast portfolio, across all levels. This, "white label", is seen as the entry level tier of the Haywire wines, and still far better than many (more expensive) contemporaries. Dusty sage is kissed with anise overtop of cool pear, lemon pith and verbena-led acidity, with a finely tuggy/grippy texture that reflects its ferment and aging in concrete tanks for ten months. Organic farming and whole bunch pressing adds to its depth. Killer value, especially with 2016 vintage.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Haywire Switchback Organic Vineyard Pinot Gris 2016
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSage and Ponderosa pine streak through this pinot gris, always one of the top wines in Haywire's vast portfolio (and one of the top BC gris consistantly). This is from OCP's home Switchback Vineyard, with 11-year-old clone 52 vines, farmed organically, on east facing calcium carbonate-laced, gravelly soils. Potent, yet finessed, with meadow grasses, wild flowers, sage, and large flake salts texturing a savoury base of quince, pear skin and musk melon. The fine tug around the sides reflects the native ferment and aging in concrete for ten months on gross lees. An echo of medicinal lemon and honey lingers on the finish. Distinct and impressive, as ever.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
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09 November 2017
88PTS
Moon Curser Contraband Series Arneis 2016
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaArneis is an unusual grape for BC but famous in its Piemonte homeland. This is an super dry version with citrus, green apples, guava and assorted crunchy orchard fruit flavours. Tight and in some ways severe, it will push your palate to the limit which may not be a bad thing. Dry, fresh, juicy, it finished austere and clean. Use it as you would a squeeze of lemon. Oysters anyone?Prices:| BC | $22.52 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Pentâge Winery Gamay Noir 2015
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAlluring forest berries, Italian plum, thorny blackberry, cassis jam through this darker-hued gamay noir, one owning its sun-given powers with élan. There's an alluring fine slick of mineral salts that line the palate of this medium-bodied red, with grips of herbal branch and licks of light peppercorn. The palate is soft, but not heavy, and lingers with fine smoked salts. Well done, especially with a decant or some time to expand in the glass. Best enjoyed with pork tenderloin or rabbit.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Janare Falanghina del Sannio 2015
Campania, ItalyThis wine is always expressive on the nose, with big florals, concentrated anise, mango, quince and pear with a mineral undercurrent reflective of the limestone and clay soils in the vineyards. The palate is fresh and full with rounded corners, plenty off spice and a long persistent finish. Treve describes this wine as dense and potent but with flow and I couldn’t agree more. Buttered clams, crab and butter or even halibut would all work here.Prices:| BC | $19.29 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Heidi Schrock Furmint 2013
Bergland Österreich, AustriaFurmint is a beautiful thing, and Heidi Schröck, a leading light of Austrian low interventionist winemaking, is a terroir transmitter for this buzzing, understated, nonchalent and chic grape. Based in Burgenland, Schröck took over her family's 10 acres in the village of Rust in 1983, where she quickly started turning out idiosyncratic wines like this from their mica slate, limestone and sandy loam soils. Their south facing vineyards shade the softly rolling hills around Lake Neusiedl, forming a sort of natural ampitheatre. Nervy and electric, with chamomile scenting ample salts, medicinal lemon, flax, smoked stones, meadow grasses and green apple crispness. A slick of honeyed lees softens the stony base and hints to the age of this wine, one that is entirely not about the fruit. An intellectual stunner now.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
BK Wines Skin n' Bones White 2016
Lenswood, Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaHighly perfumed, shining golden yellow hued, with bruised apricot, orange blossom, pear skin leading the streaming, delicate and savoury form. The fading musk twinkles with lemon/lime sherbet before a bright, salted, white grapefruit twist on the lingering finish. It's all wabi-sabi, on the edge riding floral/fresh, and decay, all still intriguingly leading you to glass after glass (especially at 11.8 percent). Savagnin was brought into Oz from Spain and planted as Albarino. When folks discovered the cuttings they brought over were not actually albarino, but Jura's legendary savagnin (mistakenly planted in Spain as albarino), most vintners ripped it up. Brendon Keys, a fan of savagnin and Jura, is one of the few who chose to continue with savagnin, and is one of the few to work with the grape in Australia today. This is an 'orange wine', destemmed and fermented like a red with one month on skins in fermenter before being pressed off to barrel for nine months. In the mix is one new barrel from a forest in Jura, completing the circumference of this grape's journey from Jura to Spain to Oz back to Jura.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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08 November 2017
88PTS
Pentâge Cabernet Franc Reserve Appassimento Style 2013
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI can’t say I’m a fan of the process of“appassimento” outside of the Valpolicella region in Italy, and even there global warming may be rendering it unnecessary. That said, the process of partially drying the grapes has done here in BC what you would expect: concentrated sugars and increased alcohol and/or residual sugar. On the upside, it has given the wine much more complexity on the nose. Plums and raisins are the dominant bouquet and they sit on the palate with a touch of milk chocolate. If you like your red wine sweet this is it, and it’s well made. Best with cheese and chocolate.Prices:| BC | $34.90 | 500ml |
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87PTS
Cellar Hand Punch Down Cabernet Franc 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe first I have seen of this cabernet franc, it opens with a peppery briary attack. The fruit is ripe but not overdone with round and powdery, soft tannins. Juicy, fragrant, blackcurrant flavours end with a smoky, earthy undercurrent. Big and juicy, this can take on barbecue beef and or pork ribs or simply prepared lamb chops.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Fort Berens Cabernet Franc 2015
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaSimilar to last year, the 2015 is mostly Lillooet fruit with a top up from the Okanagan Valley. The nose is reductive upon opening, with smoky, hickory, moss, blackberry with a hint of roasted earth. The attack is fresh with earthy, roasted tomato notes and smooth black raspberry fruit. Smoky wood finish with some acidity poking through. Best with grilled meats at this point.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Narrative Cabernet Franc by Okanagan Crush Pad 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNarrative is about the Okanagan story and its rare extreme climate: home to both arid desert landscape and cold snowy winters. This cabernet franc is built along soft, juicy lines with vibrant red briary, black fruits and round slippery tannins. The finish is fresh and spicy. The fruit is mix of sites along the Golden Mile and Black Sage benches. The wine was fermented and aged in concrete tank for 9 months prior to bottling in late July 2017.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Van Westen Vineyards Vulture 2014
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSurprisingly cool and floral on the nose with a light mix of red currants, red cherries and huckleberries. The attack is dry, the tannins sticky, with more plummy, peppery fruit flecked with bits of cumin and dried herbs. This needs food at this point to pull everything together. Try with mushroom dishes, or grilled meats or roasted game birds. Give this another year to gather itself in the bottle for best results.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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07 November 2017
88PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Pinot Blanc 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWines like this prove how suited pinot blanc is to the Okanagan. Orchard pear, yellow apple, lightly lined with sagebrush and bedded with creamy lees that rolls across the full palate. Acidity is moderate, and there is a light flush of heat on the finish that makes this wine best suited to pairing with a lightly creamy tofu, risotto or chicken dish.Prices:| BC | $21.49 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Skaha Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2016
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPinot blanc is a grape very well suited to the Okanagan, and wines like this show why. Pure pear streams along the stony, salty palate, with fine sage dust spicing up the sides. The vineyard is up above Skaha Lake on steep shale slopes with fossilzed sandstone. Bright and lively in the mouth, though lined with a full layer of lees and a fuller body (13.7 percent alcohol). Balance is everything. Well done.Prices:| BC | $21.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Narrative Pinot Blanc 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is the first release of Narrative Pinot Blanc, since the grape used to be blended away into Narrative white. This year they decided the wine was so tasty that it should stand alone. This was native fermented in concrete, where it rested for eight months. Ripe melon, pear, yellow apple, peach gummies in this lush, creamy, lower acidity white. There's a snap of zippy spice just closing the finish of this friendly white. Drink now.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Stoneboat Pinot House Alessio 2016
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAlessio was made for a family friend in the leaner, European style. The mix is 85/15 pinot bianco/müller-thurgau, de-stemmed and lightly crushed into the press, fermented dry and left on its lees for two months. Look for floral honeysuckle, melon with peachy/apricot pit flavours, refreshing acidity and a dry, nutty finish with a hint of bitterness. Ready to drink with your favourite sushi rolls.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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06 November 2017
86PTS
Black Hills Alias 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAlias is a new wine from Black Hills but hardly a new formula. The what’s-left-in-the-tank fruit salad white mixes 30 percent riesling, 28 percent pinot blanc, 19 percent gewürztraminer, 9 percent schoenberger, 8 percent muscat, 6 percent ehrenfelser that thankfully isn’t too sweet. Still, you can expect a tropical barrage of fruit flavours held by a candied orange, pineapple, guava and passionfruit. There is enough acidity to keep it all together in the finish. A beach white you can chill down and serve with spicy sushi rolls.Prices:| BC | $21.65 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sperling Market White 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLively, bright and fresh with lime blossom, juicy apple and brisk acidity, with intensity impressive for a delightful 10.5 percent. Nectarine fuzz lingers on the finish. This is a blend of germanic varieties including pinot blanc, bacchus and riesling. A joyous white, well made, at a great price; I wish more of our white blends followed this lead.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Conundrum White 2015
California, United StatesNo big change here. A sweet, floral fruit salad nose and flavour profile attracts a wide audience creating a Conundrum of sorts for dry white wine drinkers. Sweet pear and gooseberry, dusted with baby powder finishes soft and round with a push of vanilla and heat. Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Tulare Counties go into this off-dry white. Although the blend is never disclosed, we are guessing the mix includes chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, sémillon, muscat canelli and viognier, aged in stainless, new and used French oak. Chill well and serve solo with spicy dishes.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.55 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $28.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $26.80 | 750ml |
| NB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| NFL | $26.26 | 750ml |
| PEI | $26.49 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Occhipinti SP68 Bianco 2016
Sicily, ItalyFrom one of the world's leading natural winemakers and advocates, Arianna Occhipinti blends 15-55-year-old Moscato di Alessandria and Albanello from south western Sicily's limestone-laced soils in this biodynamic, non-interventionist wine. Native ferment, with no inputs save for a touch of sulphur at bottling. After 15 days of skin contact, this spends six months in concrete tank before it is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Slightly cloudy, light golden in hue, with white and pink blossom (slightly wilted), herbal lemon thistle, orange custard, apricot fuzz, pear skin, cold cream perfume, all on a creamy peach flan palate, slim at 12 percent and bristling with tense acidity. There's an alluring prettiness in the imperfections of this wine, so typical of her wines.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Stoneboat Pinot House Gravelbar Chorus 2016
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Gravel Bar Chorus is an aromatic orchard of fruit stuffed into the glass. Look for melon, peach and green apple flavours with a solid stream of acidity and just a wisp of minerality which calls for another sip. The grapes come off the oldest vineyard, originally planted in 1984. Early ripening schönburger was crushed and de-stemmed then transferred with skins to tank for 48 hours then pressed. Pinot blanc and müller thurgau harvests followed shortly afterwards. Each variety was picked and fermented separately with a long, cold fermentation at 13 C, lasting 3 weeks. Blending took place in early February.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Stina Cuvee White 2015
Coastal Croatia, CroatiaEver had Croatian wine before? Then chances are you haven't tried the grapes posip and vuguva either, the main two varieties in this Dalmatian coast blend (alongside ten percent chardonnay). Stein is one of Croatia's top wineries, and based on the island of Brač. Young vines on limestone-led soils were aged six months in stainless, and display creamy pear, ripe cantaloupe, lemon and green fig in a moderate 12 percent frame. A plump, gently honeyed cushion on the palate supports, while frisky acidity lifts. This is a natural with scallops or succulent spot prawns.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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05 November 2017
91PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 2015 is perhaps the best example of the new Nota Bene with is hedonistic rich fruit, brooding dense sweet tannins and powerful alcohol. The seventeenth vintage, like last year was given an additional six months of barrel and it looks good on it. The 56/38/6 blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc (all Oliver estate fruit) came in at 14.8 but it feels higher. Still super young with smoky, black cherry, cassis laden fruit and vanilla this is a monster Nota Bene that will need a full decade to settle into its groove. Winemaker Graham PiercePrices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2014
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. A brooding black hue, this vintage of Black Hills' iconic Note Bene is another evolution in style. Now in its sixteenth vintage, it is gifted (wisely) an additional six months of barrel aging, with the aim for that extra layer of integration and softening of the massive tannin this wine carries in youth. It sure looks like a win to me, though the best years of this wine's life are yet to come. The 52/33/15 blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc (all Oliver estate fruit) at 14.9 percent alcohol is tightly wound but with dense, sweet tannins and plenty of smoky roasted black cherry fruits. This needs a decade in the bottle or a three hour decant before serving it with lamb or venison. Winemaker Graham Pierce.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2013
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. I’m a fan of the 2013 reds and this Nota bene is falling into shape on cue although its years from its peak. Savoury, peppery, tobacco notes flecked with black olive, coffee and vanilla entice. The attack is BC fresh with elegant, slightly lean but reasonably smooth tannins. On the palate more coffee, black pepper, black olive, tobacco and inky black fruit go long and firm. This needs a few more years but if you must drink it now it should be perfect with a grilled steak. A stylish Nota Bene. The 2013 Nota Bene blend is 49/40/11 merlot/cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc at a perfect 13.7 degrees alcohol.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. It is the first time in more than a decade merlot has taken the lead in the blend and frankly the wine is much better for it. Softer textures and rounder mouthfeel preview a delicious, balanced, black-fruited red with a savoury smoky, graphite undercurrent. The wine was aged in an 80/20 mix of French and American oak. The best yet. The 2012 Nota Bene blend is 35/57/8 merlot/cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc at 14.5 percent degrees alcohol. Winemaker Graham Pierce.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. Another cool offering where the dill marks the cassis through. The finish is dry and resiny if there is bright light you can sense the tannins management is under control and the textures are soft and slippery. Ready and waiting for a warmer year. The blend is a 5o/40/10 mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc at 14.0 degrees alcohol. Winemaker Graham Pierce.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. A super cool year always brings out the dill, herbal, leafy notes at Nota Bene as does 57 percent cabernet sauvignon. The years have shed some of the resiny roasted tomato notes leaving a simple soft ready to drink red that might be best served with a roast pork. The blend is a 57/32/11 mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc at 14.1 percent alcohol. Winemaker Graham Pierce.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. Finally, a vintage with phenolic ripeness that has converted the perennial green notes at Nota Bene into a savoury, plummy, black fruit red with a long, delicious aftertaste. The tannins are dense but sweet and it makes all the difference. Certainly, among the best of the first decade. The blend is a 46/38/16 mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc at 14.1 percent alcohol. Winemaker Graham Pierce.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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80PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. A tough year that hasn’t really improve in the bottle. Dry, tight, light bodied and tart. with light, dry tannins. One to let go. The blend is a 48/41/11 mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc at 14.2 percent alcohol. Winemaker Graham Pierce.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. In 2007 Black Hills was sold by the original founders and became a limited partnership venture adding additional resources to the winery’s bag of tricks. The blend is a 46/39/15 mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc at 14.7 percent alcohol. This is a beefier version of 2006 with black cherry fruit and cassis that turns into a savoury, espresso, pipe tobacco affair, with a roasted tomato dusty finish. Graham Pierce co-chair the vintage with Senka Tennant.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 2005 is beginning to show an upgrade from better oak and more new wood. Better tannin management also lends it a greater overall finesse. Round ripe and easy sipping the spicy tobacco notes sit over a long chalky finish. The ’05 is a 43/37/20 blend of cabernet sauvignon / merlot and cabernet franc at 14.7 percent alcohol. Winemaker Senka Tennant.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. One of the lighter wines in the tasting it has evolved like many before it into a round soft, sweetish red that is ready to drink. The alcohol is carrying it at this point but it is enjoyable to drink. Lacks complexity but its one of the first to show refinement in structure and length. The 2004 is a 46/36/18 blend of cabernet sauvignon / merlot and cabernet franc. Winemaker Senka Tennant.Prices:| BC | $36.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 03 Nota Bene mix is classic, 46/34/20/ cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc and it was one of the cleanest on the nose since the start. Today, one of the warmest ever years in the Okanagan, has given the wine a tarry, Barolo-like nose with smoky, olive tobacco notes. Over time the wine has mellowed and is showing more spice but without deepening in complexity or length. Ready to drink. The eight-year-old vineyard yielded a mix of 46/34/20/ cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc at 14.5 percent alcohol. Solid. Winemaker Senka Tennant.Prices:| BC | $31.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2002
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 2002 was one of the better early wines from Nota Bene that has morphed into a soft, round, easy-sipping red with a sweet candied (volatile) fruit finish. A good example of the sum of the parts exceeding the individual blend of 48/37/15 blend of cabernet sauvignon/ merlot/cabernet franc at 14.5 percent alcohol. No real savoury notes at this point just dry and herbal. Ready to drink with roasted meats. Winemaker Senka Tennant.Prices:| BC | $31.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 2001 NB is a 46/35/19 blend of cabernet sauvignon/ merlot/cabernet franc at 14 percent alcohol. The nose is a mix of cooler, root vegetable, smoky licorice notes. Back in the day it was one of the hardest young NBs and while the tannins have dissipated the dry cedar, peppery olive notes persist. Happy to see these days gone. Winemaker Rusty Figgins.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 2000 Nota Bene is a 52/25/23 blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and merlot with 14 percent alcohol. It’s one of the darker wines in the lineup sporting a light smoky licorice nose now with almost no fruit left. The palate is tired and showing some oxidation with mostly cedar, tobacco earthy flavours at this point. Well past its prime. Winemaker Rusty FigginsPrices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 1999
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 1999 was a peppery, spicy, earthy tobacco affair and now it’s a dry, peppery, tarry, licorice tobacco affair, almost Barolo-like, showing signs of oxidation. We noted it was nearly mature in 2004 so it is no surprise where it’s at today. A curiosity at best that needs drinking. The blend 64% merlot, 26% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc was bottled with 13 percent alcohol. Winemaker Rusty FigginsPrices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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04 November 2017
92PTS
Trapiche Iscay Malbec Cabernet Franc 2011
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThis wine was the first started by winemaker Sergio Case when he joined Trapiche 18 years ago. It is 65/35 blend of malbec/cabernet franc from their vineyards in Cruz de Piedra, Maipú, and in Altamira, Uco Valley. Biscay was intended to be an elegant, "European style" red, and I reckon they've succeeded. Destemmed fruit is fermented in small concrete vats it spends a year in new French oak before the blend, and then back to barrel for an additional six months and into bottle for two years. This savoury wine is very fine and precise, with lifted and direct minerality that runs through the spicy finish. Wild plum, herbal cassis, bittersweet dark chocolate, thorns and a fine wash of dark violets fill the palate, finishing with lingering orange pith.Prices:| BC | $53.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $47.35 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Trapiche Perfiles Chardonnay 2015
Gualtallary, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaSome of the highest vineyards in the world are found in Argentina, so it's always a wonder to me that people are surprised to find fresh, vibrant whites. If you doubt me, pour this, from the calcareous-rich soils of Gualtallary at 1300m. Perfiles translates as "profiles", and this tier aims to capture the profile of a single grape on a single soil, with minimal winemaking to unmask the site. This was destemmed, gently pressed and cold settled before going through malolactic fermentation in older French foudres, where it rested its lees for three months. Salty and grippy, with fine, savoury-hued lees and a stream of minerality throughout its long form. Bright lemon acidity and energy to the lively finish, which lingers with mineral salts. A beauty, and one that shows the potential of white grapes at altitude in Argentina. More like this please.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Trapiche Gran Medalla Chardonnay 2015
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaGran Medalla was introduced to celebrate the winery's 125th anniversary, and remains a benchmark wine of the estate. Some of the highest vineyards in the world are found in Argentina, so it's always a wonder to me that people are surprised to find fresh whites and reds. This vineyard, in Los Árboles, Uco Valley, Mendoza, is at 1236 meters above sea level, on sandy, calcium-carbonate studded soils, so you can imagine the brightness found inherently. Fermented with native yeasts, this was whole bunch pressed and split between French barrel and concrete (eggs and vats) for fermentation and nine months on the lees (twice weekly battonage) before being blended and returned to bottle for at least one year prior to release. The ample battonage slows on the weight of the palate, with thick lees bedding ripe pear, cashew, perfumed lemon curd. Juicy throughout, to a lemony finish. A powerful, stately chardonnay in an older style. I'd love to see less battonage and lighter wood use to really let this special site shine.Prices:| MB | $26.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $33.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Trapiche Terroir Series Finca Ambrosia Malbec 2013
Gualtallary, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThe Ambrosia on the label refers to the grower of this Malbec from Gualtallary, Tupungato in Mendoza, reflective of the Terroir Series tier. The tier began in 2003 to honour the Trapiche grape growers. This site is at 1300m, on calcium carbonate soils, and with own-rooted vines twelve years in age. After native ferment in concrete, this spends eighteen months in new French oak barrels, followed by another year in bottle prior to release. Lovely blue fruit, with potent cassis and crunchy, brisk acidity and grippy sides. There's a seasoning of wild thyme that runs throughout, up to dark chocolate and espresso lingering on the lengthy finish. Expressive and long, this drinks very well now but will continue to mature easily for another 7+ years.Prices:| BC | $42.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Trapiche Gran Medalla Malbec 2013
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaGran Medalla was introduced to celebrate the winery's 125th anniversary, and remains a benchmark estate wine. From three plots of sandy loam soils at their Finca Los Arboles vineyard in the Uco Valley, Mendoza, this was native fermented in a concrete vat before 18 months into 80 percent new French oak barrels. The 2013 was a great vintage in Mendoza; this is showing lush, plush, mature fruit, with black currants, thorny cassis and violet leaves, held firm with grippy tannins. Quite potent and dense, thick with anise on the full palate, with a flush of heat on the spicy finish that requires red meats to tame. Old school style, modernized.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Trapiche Tres 14 2011
Vista Flores, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaTres 14 may seem a strange name for a premium, high-altitude, old-vine malbec from Vista Flores in the Uco Valley. That is, until you realize that Trapiche head winemaker, Daniel Pi's last name is the same as 3.14, which written out = tres 14. Memorable, yeah? Just like the wine made from own-rooted, 20+ year old vines, planted 1000m up on clay and silty soils. This is a very small lot (garage series) wine that was fermented and aged in second-use French and American oak for nine months. Potent and perfumed wild blackberry, plum laced with heady violets on a silken palate bounded with a stony grip. The wood is eaten up by the fruit, leaving a lingering dose of saltiness and light wood spicing on the finish. Drinking very well now, but will continue to age effortlessly for a few years.Prices:| BC | $44.97 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Black Hills Nota Bene 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis note comes from a 17-wine vertical tasting held in Osoyoos, British Columbia on Saturday September 30. Each of the bottles tasted were in good physical condition although clearly some of the older, formative years are now past their best. Working through 17 vintages of Nota Bene makes it clear that better viticulture, older grapes vines, new facilities and better wine knowledge has improved the all-round quality of the current Nota Bene labels when compared to its humbler beginnings. The 2006 has the benefit of a new winery being added to the mix. It’s a cooler year and those tarry Barolo notes are everywhere. This is old Bordeaux with bit of brettanomyces and smoky, meaty, tobacco, savoury notes. Perfect for roast lamb. The 2006 mix is a 47/37/16 blend of cabernet sauvignon / merlot and cabernet franc at 14.7 percent alcohol. Winemaker Senka Tennant.Prices:| BC | $43.00 | 750ml |
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03 November 2017
88PTS
Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, ChileThis has always been one of the best, simple Veramonte labels. For the price, this wine is delicious and should be the perfect advertisement for Casablanca sauvignon fruit. The style is refreshing with juicy green apple/grapefruit flavours with a hint of ripe guava and mango and a lively mineral streak in the finish. A fresh versatile chicken/seafood white. Good value.Prices:| BC | $13.49 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThis is more Napa than sauvignon blanc, which could be a good thing but in this case, maybe not. Light tropical fruit aromas and flavours with some herbal notes mark this middleweight white that is more gulpable than suited to food. You could say it's elegant, but in the end, for the price, it's lacking a bit of authenticity. Of course, on a warm day on a hot patio…Prices:| BC | $39.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $27.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $27.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $27.95 | 750ml |
| NFL | $35.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $33.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Haywire Free Form Natural and Unfiltered White 2016
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPiercing apricot pith, peach pit, orange oil and grapefruit in this Free Form natural orange wine from Haywire. Though the palate is ripe downy pear and lees-clad, the finish is bitter sharp with medicinal / herbal citrus oils and resin. A more extreme version than previous vintages that will takes some getting used to. The fruit is from Summerland's Waters & Banks Vineyard, fermented using native yeast in stainless steel tanks where it aged on skins for nine months. It was pressed and left to rest for an additional two months before bottling in August 2017.Prices:| BC | $34.90 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Condor Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Mendoza, ArgentinaClean, fresh, tropical fruit nose with a green, herbal undercurrent. The attack is similar with pineapple, apple, citrus fruit and a reasonably smooth, dry finish. Simple, tight and dry; well-suited to shrimp ceviche or sushi rolls. Chill well. Good value.Prices:| BC | $10.49 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Augey Bordeaux Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2016
FranceLove how consistently good this wine is for the price and it is a bargain. The fruit is a mix of sauvignon blanc and sémillon. The attack is ripe with mouth-filling lemongrass, lime and tangerine aromas flavours flecked with minerals and herbs. Very quaffable sweet lime flavours mixed with gooseberry and kiwi that fill out the finish. Try this with spicy sushi or a favourite Indian take-out dish. Very good value in an introductory style Bordeaux white.Prices:| BC | $13.29 | 750ml |
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02 November 2017
89PTS
Vigno Undurraga Old Vines Dry-Farmed Carignan 2011
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileDense and thick anise, potent leather, black licorice, and ample kirsch, blackberry, dried black plum in this dry-farmed, old vine carignan from Maule. There's a fragrant dusky potpourri spicing this potent, ripe, dense, thick and seductive palate, with thankful quench of acidity and concentrated salty wash on the hot finish. Requires equally dense red meats to match the intensity. Decant for maximum enjoyment, and then pair with lamb.Prices:| MB | $37.98 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Donkey & Goat Carignane 2015
Mendocino County, California, United StatesFrom 75-year-old organically-farmed carignan vines, this is from Testa Vineyards' sandstone and loam soils in Mendocino, just over 520m in altitude. After a 10-day maceration, this spent an additional ten months in neutral French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Dusky plum, raspberry, mineral, black cherry, dried thyme is carried with fine, persistent acidity, lifted and bright, all with a persistent perfumed over hue of wild bush blueberry. Bottled unfined and unfiltered (an overt cloudiness) this has a grippy duskiness on the lingering finish. A lovely pour, though wish it was about half the price.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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01 November 2017
89PTS
Argento Reserva Cabernet Franc 2015
Mendoza, ArgentinaI love the aromatics on this wine, that in cool 2015 are even more emphatic. Like the previous vintage, the style is fresh, the nose pure, the textures supple on entry. The fruit is an effusive mix of blue and red fruits flecked with savoury dried herbs. Juicy and soft, the texture and length are amazing for the price. Serve with roasted chicken, quail, pork or mature hard cheeses. Impressive.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Tawse Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2013
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaThis organic Lincoln Lakeshore cabernet franc is now coming into its own, ruling the branchy, earthy, cigar tobacco, salty raspberry freshness inherent in cabernet franc. And in the process, proving that cab franc is a signature red of Ontario. Red florals, cherry, ample salts is grounded with an herbal thorniness and buoyed by a swell of acidity. Tannins are softening (vs tasting six months ago), melding into a persistent tug to a tight finish. Eighteen months in French oak provided the structure, and Lincoln Lakeshore's long, gentle slopes have formed the curves. This isn't at height yet: give this a year or two in the cellar to really emerge.Prices:| ON | $32.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Stratus Cabernet Franc 2014
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaPotent and dense, with grilled meats, blackberry thorns, black cherries, pitch on a bed of dark, moist humus soils. This Niagara-on-the-Lake wine spent approximately 18 months in French oak, one quarter new. Tannins are firm, but fine, and while the oak is evident, it always takes a background role to support the perfectly ripe (at 12.7 percent) fruit. I reckon that cabernet franc is Ontario's red card, and wines like this drive that home.Prices:| ON | $38.00 | 750ml |
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December 2017